December 18 - 24, 2020
On June 19, 2020, I made a commitment to educate myself on the
lingering effects of racism, discrimination, and bias in America. Every
day through June 18, 2021, I will read an article or book chapter,
listen to a
podcast, watch a movie or documentary, view a webinar, or do something
substantive to educate myself in these areas. As part of that
commitment, I will post to this blog each Friday with a list of what
I've done over the past week as well as any pertinent thoughts or
reflections.
Today's post covers the week of December 18-24, 2020.
In this episode, host Emmanuel Acho answers his most frequently asked questions. Acho first reads an email from a 73-year-old white woman who is confronting her own racism, then he talks about broken Black families, cultural appropriations, and reverse racism. He finishes off with a message of hope from the mother of a young Black child who looks to Acho for guidance.
Patrice Peck writes this short piece for The Atlantic. Black Americans have died from COVID-19 at nearly twice the rate of white Americans. Inequitable access to testing and medical care are part of that disparity, while the prevalence of people of color who are classified as essential workers has left them more vulnerable to infection.
Entrepreneur Morgan Mercer is profiled by Forbes for her work in combating racism. Mercer founded the company Taboo Table Talk to facilitate difficult discussions about discrimination. Her card game, titled I Am Not A Racist, enables players to start difficult conversations with each other and offers helpful suggestions when they get stuck.
This episode of the NPR podcast Code Switch delves into the history of Black gun ownership in this country. Philip Smith, founder of the National African American Gun Association, thinks creating a community of Black gun owners is essential for Black safety. Charles Cobb, author of This Non-Violent Stuff'll Get You Killed, shares details about gun ownership during the Civil Rights movement. On the other side, Pew Research statistics show that gun owners are more likely to die violently than non-gun owners.
An article by psychology professor Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton discusses terror management theory as an explanation for some of the polarization of Americans on race, class, and politics. TMT posits that the terror associated with the awareness of our
mortality is so strong that
it motivates people to come up with ways to manage it. One way involves aligning ourselves with ideals that will outlive
us. When circumstances remind people of their mortality, their terror
management mechanisms kick into gear. However, if you remind people
who would otherwise dislike each other that they are part of the same
team, you’ll see them coming together, such as New Yorkers after 9/11.
Erin Thompson writes in Smithsonian Magazine about the confirmation bias that people carry with them when viewing historical sites and monuments. Laurajane Smith, professor at Australian National University, says that people tend to look for reinforcing information when touring an historical site, and that even providing the right context in text or photos may go unnoticed by those unwilling to consider new information.
Allison Hanes writes this opinion piece in the Montreal Gazette about some of the 2020 social media posts that have led to more conversations and protests around race. Hanes posits that the videos associated with several incidents in the US and Canada ensure we "can no longer hide behind the privilege of reasonable doubt." What isn't clear is whether social media can facilitate lasting change. Hanes argues that until we put the grievances of people hurt by racism above those who fear being called a racist, we won't move much beyond our current state of affairs.
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